Welcome to the forum Orchidgirl, I will just quote the latest good post on this topic since this post has lots of opinions and has evolved
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roberta
It isn't showing any signs of slowing down, so keep up the watering at the current rate as long as it has flowers. Once the flowers drop, you can cut back the watering somewhat, but unless you see leaves start to yellow, don't push it too hard. First, it's a hybrid, and very likely part of its ancestry doesn't slow down as much as Den. nobile does. Also, it may have had its seasons manipulated with light and temperature to get it to bloom now. (A blooming orchid is worth a lot more than a bare one...) Even the species Den. nobile does not go completely dormant in my experience. When I first started out in orchids I received the advice "no water between Halloween and Valentine's Day" ... and several died before I figured out that this was too severe. I suggest that temperature drop is probably at least as important in inspiring flowers as the dry period. So once it stops blooming, perhaps put it in a sun room or on a windowsill close enough to the glass to feel a chill at night. If it doesn't show signs of blooming in the spring but waits next year until summer or fall, then you know that it has ancestry that includes fall bloomers as well as Den nobile. After a year or so in your care, it will revert to a natural cycle (whatever that may be) no matter what manipulation it may have received this year.
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If you analyze what Roberta has posted you shouldn't force a winter rest on the orchid.
They go through a winter rest just by being in the UK!!!
Sun light hours drop, light levels decrease, clouds appear more, temperatures drop. This is what happens in winter and the plant "rests" as a result but like Roberta says they aren't really dormant or resting at all, in fact in this period they are secretly being extremely busy gearing up to flower in spring.
They need to collect the energy to produce flowers very very fast once spring time hits. Cold night temperatures means the orchids don't lose too much energy at night, additional light can be beneficial in the height of winter to help the plant build up energy.
There is a myth that a stressed orchid can flower better. Don't fall for myths.
The main thing to remember is that orchids drink less in winter and colder temperatures can cause fungal infections in too wet conditions so in winter watering should absolutely be adjusted so as not to overwater but don't purposefully let orchids dry out either.
I know there are people that completely disagree with me and get their dendrobiums to flower every year. Like brad's greenhouse on youtube actively encourages months of drying out in winter.
So yes orchids are pretty hardy and can tolerate quite a lot. Now everyone has to experiment and try for themselves. In a cold greenhouse there might be enough condensation forming in winter that no watering is needed even if the orchids are getting water from somewhere.
The one thing i dislike is someone claiming something is the only way to do something without having ever tried an alternative! Lots of things work, some things work better than others.
Always worth remembereing
Winter rest
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